Man Accidentally Kills Himself After Threatening to Shoot Dog

A Florida man is dead after accidentally shooting himself in the face following a threat to kill one of the family’s dogs during an argument with his wife.

Dennis Eugene Emery was fighting with his wife in their Pinellas Park home on Tuesday morning. At about 6 am, he threatened to shoot one of their dogs.

Emery grabbed his revolver and pulled back the hammer to cock it. He had the gun pointing at his face while trying to release the hammer “back to a safe position,” and the gun discharged, according to Sergeant Adam Geissenberger of the Pinellas Park Police Department.

He was declared dead at the scene. Though police say there are conflicting reports of it being a suicide, they are ruling the shooting accidental.

Emery has had 34 brushes with the law since 2012. Over a five-day stretch in October of this year, he was arrested three times. At the time of his death there were charges against him for aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and leaving the scene of a crash.

Thankfully now Emery’s wife and dogs are out of danger from this highly troubled man.

studied English and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a focus on animal behavior, neuropsychology, and psychotherapy. She shares two pit bulls (adopted from the SPCA Serving Erie County) with her family, as well as three adopted cats with her husband, Fred. She takes pride in being a grammar enthusiast and advocating for animals, the environment, equal rights, and humanitarianism. She loves camping, cooking, taking photos, listening to psychedelic rock and indie music, and making all sorts of crafty things – from charm bracelets and paper rose bouquets to kitty condos and feral cat houses!

Melanie was sharing this profile with Fred, who is new to the Life With Dogs family, so many stories that were written by Fred from April 2014 – June 2014 will appear under Melanie’s name.